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Post by christa on Jul 19, 2013 9:15:56 GMT -7
Hello Everyone!, My name is Christa and I have a 7 year old Lhasa Apso that had disk surgery yesterday afternoon, the 10th disk I believe. My wonderful sister was once a member of this support group when her then 4 year old doxie had the same surgery. She told me how wonderful you all are in advise and support so I decided to join!! Puffin is of course my fur baby, and yesterday's ordeal was a bit stressful as I know all of you understand. I went through the entire process of recovery with my sister's doxie and I have an understanding of what I need to do, but since it was so long ago I will need a bit of advise when things come around. Right now Puffin is at the emergency vet in recovery and will be there until tomorrow afternoon. In the meantime I have gone into prep mode. I know that he can have anywhere from 6-12 weeks of strict crate rest, and I'm prepared for this. Puffin already has a crate and bedding. I will go out this afternoon and get him a water bottle (a larger hampster kind), a sling which I'm still wondering how i will make this so suggestions are more than welcome  , i also ordered a life jacket last night for water therapy, and have a pretty large bathtub for him when that time comes around. My vet is very very supportive and they plan to show me the ropes tomorrow when I go to pick him up. Any and all suggestions ar welcome. I'm scared and a little nervious for him, I just hope I can make his recovery easy and unstressful. Thank you so much and I hope to hear from you members |
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PaulaM
Moderator. 
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,928
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Post by PaulaM on Jul 19, 2013 10:07:48 GMT -7
Christa, welcome to Dodgerslist. I'm sorry to hear about Puffin. Sounds like you will do a good job with his recovery period with having a hand in your sister's process. We have added a lot of very good information to help you ….all located on our main webpage. Check out the rose colored box on the right for good tips on setting up the recovery suite. For today you'll want to jot down questions for discharge day. This list will get you started: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/dischargequestions.htmAnd this page will get you oriented to what happens right after surgery and at home: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/surgery.htmPlease let us know what the surgeon directs for PT and for crate rest and what meds if any he is sent home with. |
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Post by christa on Jul 21, 2013 20:06:58 GMT -7
Hello Everyone, My name is Christa and my pup's name is Puffin. He is around 6 1/2 7 years old Lhasa Apso. Right now our vet has stated he is on 24-7 crate rest for 4-6 weeks. Already puffin is able to express on his own and no problems pooping. He is currently getting Neurontin 100mg every 12 hours and tramadol 50mg (half pill of that) every 6,8,or 12 hours. He was discontinued Metacam until the vet sees he needs it. He is also on some at home PT. Moving his paws, legs, and thigh back and forth, and move them like he is walking for 3-5 times a day.
I have a few questions:
-What is the easiest way to clean his urine out of his fur with out weting his whole body, i went out and got non-scented and natural babywipes. But i'm not sure these do the trick.
-Best way to keep him eating from his bowl? Should I take him out or should i let him lean over his bowl like he is now.
-Puffin is very active, and I'm scared he will become depressed in his crate, what are some ways to keep him busy and ocupied but still calm so he can still heal.
thanks a bunch and so happy to belong to such a wonderful group of people!!
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Post by exleyfam11 on Jul 21, 2013 20:17:48 GMT -7
Hey there!
Baby wipes are what we have been using and what the surgeon recommended to us. We have been putting Susie's food in her bowl in the crate, same with water.
As far as keeping occupied we bought her a Kong toy that you stuff with treats. We put some canned dog food in it and freeze it so that it lasts a while longer
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Post by christa on Jul 22, 2013 11:37:39 GMT -7
Thank you for the advice!! I have a kong for him and the food I feed him has a can as well, so I'll slowly introduce that to his treats. I got him one of those hampster water bottles, so durring the day he can drink water, but I'm still trying to think about how to get him to drink more. Good thing is that he can pee on his own, and today he wagged his tail!! |
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,928
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Post by PaulaM on Jul 22, 2013 21:00:43 GMT -7
Christa, welcome to Dodgerslist. YOu might consider a little fur clipping with some scissors to help keep things sanitary and clean ups easier. A damp washcloth or the baby wipes should do the trick. Puffin might like a bowl for his water. I know my dog never did get used the hampster bottle thing.  |
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Post by christa on Jul 23, 2013 10:42:26 GMT -7
Today was extremely stressful. As I have stated before, Puffin is highly active, and now an excape artist.I came home at lunch (1:10pm) after leaving for work at 8am, and he was out of his crate and near the gate that i have also put up. Maybe 3 feet or so, but enough to throw me into a freak out. I have now put Binder clips on his doors so no matter what he does he cannot get out. I have thought about taking him back to the vet to see if he hurt his recovery. I didn't take him out to the bathroom, but I did do his PT with him. This is so upsetting as I don't want him to ruin his recovery.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,928
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Post by PaulaM on Jul 23, 2013 15:56:27 GMT -7
Christa, just keep an eye on him. Hopefully he will have dodged the bullet and still be ok. Watch for signs of pain showing the early healing disc scar tissue tore.
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Post by christa on Jul 23, 2013 16:18:07 GMT -7
thanks Paula! After the whole ordeal with mini Houdini, I went out and bought these metal thumb clips. My old horse trainer used them to clip gates closed. He cannot escape now. But, I have wonderful news!! this afternoon, while giving him love and happy voices, he went and turned his head and scratched BOTH ears with both rear paws!! He did it more than once and kept looking at his paw, licking it and going back to scratch a little bit. He ears aren't dirty, i did clean them on monday of last week haha. Also while outside to go pee his tail shot up and started wagging when we saw his buddy rocky!! Squeaks and wagging, I almost cried with joy. I know that his recovery is still many many weeks away, but these small things really put me at ease.
I also made those cups you posted above, he LOVES them!! He is drinking a lot more water, and ate all his food tonight. I think he doesn't like bending over to eat, but I think this is a puffin thing. He is stubborn as an ox. I swear, I thought my dog was stubborn before, but I know he is now!! Still adore my baby though!!
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,928
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Post by PaulaM on Jul 24, 2013 12:18:30 GMT -7
Puffin is on a roll with leg movements. Stay tuned for more nerve healing for the legs This is BIG. Thanks for sharing this good news. Have patience with nerve healing…mother nature has no time table.
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Post by christa on Jul 25, 2013 12:08:33 GMT -7
So it has been exactly 1 Week since Puffin's surgery and he is doing well. His tail is back to normal and he waggs it anytime he is happy!! His legs are coming along, slowly but surely and we are doing physical therapy 3x a day. His right leg is doing better than his left, but both are gaining strength and he knows when I touch them. His Stiches look great too and he'll get those taken out next Wednesday. He is still really picky with his food, and now he only wants to drink from the water bottle I got him. I think he just likes that he can have it when ever he wants. We had to upgrade to Zipties for keeping him in the crate as he tried to chew the thumb clips and i didn't want him to hurt his mouth. He doens't like his crate but he has no other choice. The Vet has now taken him off the Neurotin, so right now he is only on the Tramadol which he gets every 6 hours still. But he seems to be doing very well, I will find out tomorrow morning if his pain is ok with out the other drug, I think by sunday he can move to 8 hours on the Tramadol and then by the end of next week 12 hours. Everything else is good as well, goes to the bathroom just fine on his own, and the sling is working well. He is not allowed yet to do much walking but i hope after his check up they can give me more things to do PT wise with him. |
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, i also ordered a life jacket last night for water therapy, and have a pretty large bathtub for him when that time comes around. My vet is very very supportive and they plan to show me the ropes tomorrow when I go to pick him up. Any and all suggestions ar welcome. I'm scared and a little nervious for him, I just hope I can make his recovery easy and unstressful. Thank you so much and I hope to hear from you members 
